Norm Coleman at press conference where he announced his plans to sue to challenge Democrat Al Franken’s apparent recount victory in Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race St. Paul, Minn., on Tuesday, January 6, 2009.
(Pioneer Press: Ben Garvin)

The National Republican Senatorial Committee spent almost $1 million last month on Republican Norm Coleman’s attempt to win last year’s U.S. Senate race.

Coleman is attempting to overturn Democrat Al Franken’s slender lead. The former senator’s appeal of a trial court’s decision that Franken won is awaiting a ruling from the Minnesota Supreme Court. That ruling could be issued any day.

There are no payments listed to Joe Friedberg, the Minneapolis attorney who appeared on Coleman’s behalf before the trial court and the Supreme Court. But Friedberg has been paid.

“I don’t know why it’s not there. I was paid,” Friedberg said.

The NRSC also paid about $26,000 to Bellwether Consulting, a Washington fundraising group, for finance consulting about the race.

The Republican committee raised $248,800 for the ongoing Senate race, mostly through large donations from supporters outside Minnesota. Three donors from Las Vegas each contributed $30,400 and a Houston husband and wife each contributed $30,400.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee raised $282,500 in May for the Minnesota fight.

The DSCC doesn’t have as many big-dollar donations earmarked for Minnesota — the largest single contribution is $15,000 from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s political action committee — but they include contributions from some bold-faced Hollywood names. Barbra Streisand, who lists her occupation as singer/actor, gave $1,000; TV writer and producer Les Charles gave $2,000; TV writer and producer Steven Bochco gave $5,000; and musician Don Henley gave $5,000.

The DSCC hasn’t handled Minnesota Senate funds in the same way, so its report shows only about $5,000 in payments for the race.

Rachel E. Stassen-Berger was a Minnesota Capitol reporter for the Pioneer Press from 2001 to 2009 and again from 2015 to 2017.

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